What makes a good panel discussion?

Panel discussion on "Setting Up As A Consultant" sponsored by the International Association of Business Communicators B.C. chapter

The focal point of a panel discussion ought to be the panelists – the experts invited to share their knowledge and experience on a particular topic. We need to have good, specific questions ready for them and give each panelist a chance to answer them. It helps if the panelists know these questions in advance and take time to organize their thoughts before facing the audience.

Asking questions during a panel discussion

Depending on the topic and the audience, it might be a good idea to review the process of the panel at the outset, so everyone knows what to expect. The moderator could announce that each panelist will have X amount of minutes to answer the question and that this will be followed by questions – not statements – by the audience.

Last year I went to a great panel discussion hosted by a group of professional communicators in Vancouver (the B.C. chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators) – pictured above. The topic of the panel was “Setting up as a Consultant” and each of the panelists shared their personal story at this event held on Feb. 4, 2009.

It was billed as a chance to: “Listen in and ask your burning questions to a unique panel of knowledgeable speakers from diverse communication fields – they’ll tell you how and why they began consulting, the dos and don’ts of getting started and ways to be successful.”

Get that? Ask your questions. For after all, it’s an opportunity to ask questions, listen, and learn – is it not?

At the IABC event, the audience of communicators asked the panel questions about: the most effective way to get new clients, fee structures (hourly vs. per project), differentiating yourself, how to get the confidence to go it alone as a consultant, what kind of insurance you need, how to estimate the number of hours a project will take, what to put in a contract, and more. The session could have been much longer than the 90 minutes scheduled – with so many interesting stories from the battlefield of consulting and so much good advice for working as a consultant in our town.

The recent Social Media Club / Vancouver Blogger Meetup event is a step in the right direction when it comes to dialogue on important topics, and I’m looking forward to more. However I would like to see people arrive at panel discussions with a desire to learn, instead of using the panel as a vehicle for expressing their own opinions. If people are that eager to share their opinions (which has its place) it’s important to find the right venue for that – like a blog!